Lord Waddington dies aged 87

Lord David Waddington, who was Ribble Valley MP for seven years, has died aged 87.

Tributes have been paid to the barrister turned politician grew up in Burnley and held several key roles in Parliament.

Current Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, said: “Deepest condolences to Gilly Waddington and the family on the passing of my predecessor David Waddington- a giant of politics of his time.”

Former Conservative candidate and political presenter Iain Dale said: “Very sad to hear of the death of David Waddington. I was nearly his special advisor when he was Home Secretary. A charming and very honourable man.”

As Home Secretary, he led the Home Office at the time of the poll tax riots and the Strangeways prison disturbances in the Spring of 1990.

A supporter of capital punishment, he took a tougher line on law and order issues than his predecessor, Douglas Hurd, piloting legislation through the Commons in 1990 to ensure serious criminals served longer sentences.

He also served as chief whip under Margaret Thatcher, and after leaving the House of Commons, served as leader of the House of Lords and latterly as governor of Bermuda.

He stood several times for election before finding success. He fought Farnworth at the 1955 general election, Nelson and Colne constituency in 1964, and Heywood and Royton in 1966.

He was first elected to Parliament in 1968 at a by-election in Nelson and Colne caused by the death of Labour MP Sydney Silverman. He was re-elected in 1970 and in February 1974, but lost his seat at the October 1974 general election by a margin of 669 votes to Labour’s Doug Hoyle.

He was returned to Parliament for Clitheroe at the by-election in March 1979, and was subsequently elected for the newly-created Ribble Valley constituency in 1983.